COMFORT CARE SERVICES
PROVIDING ORTHODONTIC CARE IN MONROE, WA WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST
Our team is here to help you! We provide comfort care to restore your dental health or repair your orthodontic appliance.
True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience uncommon or excessive discomfort or have an appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to help you with some tips for home care and schedule an appointment to resolve the problem. For after hours instructions, please call our main office or access our resource library.
You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office. These issues are not orthodontic emergencies, but do require an office visit to fix the issue.
- If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.
- If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out.
- If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with needle-nosed pliers, replacing it in the tube on the back tooth.
After alleviating your discomfort, it is very important that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period may result in disruptions to your treatment plan.
Everyday Issues
General Soreness
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days.
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- Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt to chew. Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt water mouthwash.
- Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water, and rinse your mouth vigorously. If the tenderness is severe, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or whatever you typically take for headache or similar pain.
- Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen sodium (Naprosyn, Anaprox) actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.
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The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!
Loose Appliance
The braces or brackets bonded to the teeth can sometimes become loose if the bond between the tooth and bracket is broken. The tooth is not damaged, but the bracket will need to be re-bonded to the tooth. Broken brackets happen for various reasons, but most commonly occur when food that is too hard or sticky is eaten. If the bracket stays on the archwire, it can be left in place. If it is irritating, use orthodontic wax over the loose bracket to improve the irritation. If the bracket comes off of the archwire, please save the bracket and bring it to your next appointment to be repaired.
Loose Bracket
If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.
Loose Wire
Using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place: tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing colored o-ring. If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position and covering the end with wax doesn’t help, as a last resort, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp, place wax on it.
Poking Wire
Many poking wires are a result of the wire sliding to one side or the other and can be improved at home. Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it to no longer poking. If the wire is small and has a dimple in the middle between the front two teeth, check to see if the wire has slid and is no longer centered. If it has become uncentered, it can be re-centered using light pressure with tweezers.
Rave Reviews from Real Patients
At Jones Family Orthodontics, nothing makes us smile more than hearing from our patients! From braces to Invisalign, your stories and feedback remind us why we love what we do: creating confident, healthy smiles that last a lifetime. Check out these patient testimonials and see how life-changing orthodontic care can be!
Dr Jones & his team were wonderful the entire time from the moment we first met to the day my son got his braces off and retainers on. Teeth look fabulous! Highly recommend this practice to anyone looking to upgrade their smile
We love Jones Family Orthodontics! Delightful staff, excellent care, and creative surprises and special touches with every visit. My kids look forward to every appointment.
Dr. Jones and his ENTIRE staff are exceptional!!! The office thinks of literally everything to make your child feel comfortable, involved and even excited for visits! I would drive from anywhere in WA to continue orthodontic care with Dr. Jones!!
Dr. Jones and crew are amazing! It’s incredible to have an orthodontist office that creates a fun environment and feel like you’re being treated by family and friends. Everyone is so nice, accommodating, and gentle. I’ve recommended Dr. Jones to several other families who have all had the same experience.
Five-Star rating absolutely for Dr. Jones and his team! Thought it was too late to do anything for my middle-age teeth. I was told about the Invisalign treatment and followed through. The results have been terrific! I’m very pleased and now have a smile I’m not reluctant to show. Thanks again to everyone at the clinic!
